The field of quantum computation suffers from a lack of syntax. In the absence of a convenient programming language, algorithms are frequently expressed in terms of hardware circuits or Turing machines. Neither approach particularly encourages structured programming or abstractions such as data types. In this paper, we describe the syntax and semantics of a simple quantum programming language. This language provides high-level features such as loops, recursive procedures, and structured data types. It is statically typed, and it has an interesting denotational semantics in terms of complete partial orders of superoperators.

Cheapskate yuppies like me have already taken piracy to the next level. In the past, a stack of 20-cent CDs let me copy my friends' favorite albums in 10 minutes. Now, for $499, I can dump their entire collections onto an iPod in an hour.

iPod is marketed as an MP3 player, but under the stylish skin it's nothing more than spinning media. It's a 20-gig disk drive with a firewire connection that can suck down an album's worth of music in less than 15 seconds [^] with room for 400 more. The interface puts P2P freeware to shame, and it even talks to PCs. With an iPod in my pocket, I don't bother asking for CD recommendations anymore. I drag and drop my friends' entire jukeboxes. Rip 'em now, decide what to play later.

Perhaps my story The Last Rebel Coders is not so farfetched at all. The recent developments are alarmingly similar to the future predicted in the story.